Bush and Blair made secret pact for Iraq war (9 days after 9.11)

Bush and Blair made secret pact for Iraq war
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1185438,00.html
· Decision came nine days after 9/11
· Ex-ambassador reveals discussion

David Rose
Sunday April 4, 2004
The Observer

President George Bush first asked Tony Blair to support the removal of Saddam Hussein from power at a private White House dinner nine days after the terror attacks of 11 September, 2001.

According to Sir Christopher Meyer, the former British Ambassador to Washington, who was at the dinner when Blair became the first foreign leader to visit America after 11 September, Blair told Bush he should not get distracted from the war on terror's initial goal - dealing with the Taliban and al-Qaeda in Afghanistan.

Bush, claims Meyer, replied by saying: 'I agree with you, Tony. We must deal with this first. But when we have dealt with Afghanistan, we must come back to Iraq.' Regime change was already US policy.

what a huge surprise, who'da ever thunk it?:evilgrin:

Actually, I have been very surprised at Blair throughout this whole thing, he's the last person I would have thought to pair up with Chimpy and back him on the whole Iraq nonsense. I've been extremely disappointed in him, to say the least.

to say the least. Blair was elected by billing himself as somewhat of a British Clinton, that's how much Clinton was admired in the international community. Blair's rolling over and putting his heinie in the air for * was one of the last things I expected. If you read British publishing though, he's catching hell for it. I actually found a British magazine making reference to him being "Bush's Bitch" lol.

This is unconscionable. Two of the countries always held for taking the high road to uphold the democratic process have been caught red-handed fabricating a grusome march to war for reasons I still don't understand. All this for PNAC'ers ideological crusade? Oil that we will never produce enough of to offset costs? Shallow bravado?

what was it, is what i would like to know.

because that's the ONLY thing that makes any sense to me as far as Blair's actions are concerned. He was very close with Clinton, btw, and was very disappointed when the Bush coup took over the WH. So there HAS to be something more there, either blackmail or a particular promise. Blair HAS to know better!

Not surprised. Bush needed to enlist an ally ASAP for Iraq, 9/11 made him a figurehead for sympathy.

have decide now is the time to come forward.

When it is safe. When it is "too late" to get out.

The US has set up permanent bases in Iraq now, in place of the Saudi one/s. Folks, we are NEVER leaving Iraq, EVER.

For DU's own poodle fanclub...